I'm 21 years old and I have this weird anxiety for taking a dump. I thin it started in college when I kinda planed my day when I had to shit so then my day revolved around when I was gonna take my next bathroom Stop. I used to never be able to use the bathroom in public places and slowly got over that fear. Also I have a shy bladder. Now anytime I go anywhere I have a fear I'm gonna have to shit and won't be able to make it home in time because I still have a fear of shitting in public places. This anxiety last the second I get in the car to leave n It makes my stomach feel like I have to shit but when I get home I'm fine. Also it affects me when I go out and I'm not driving I don't have a way to leave whenever I want if I need to use the bathroom so it makes me want to never go out. Even when I go on dates I plan some kind of excuse in case I need to use the bathroom. I'm sure it's one of those things I just need to get over n stop fearing public bathroom but I don't know how to calm myself. If anyone can relate or tell me how to relax or how they got over their fear of public restrooms it would be a great help. I don't mind big public bathrooms but if it's a single I just can't do it. Thank you

You need to just relax and realize that everyone takes a crap. it's part of being human. that's why there are public restrooms. I personally don't like to do it in public either, but if I have to, I just do a lot of courtesy flushes...It's all good!

It sounds like you have a problem with anxiety. You know intellectually that there shouldn't be a problem, but your feelings don't behave rationally. It might help to try relaxation exercises (there are various free ones available); if that isn't enough then anxiolytic medication will help you break the cycle. Breaking the cycle and having some anxiety-free experiences is probably all you need.I once got into an anxiety about swallowing food. I don't know how it started, but I was able to force myself to carry on, and that fairly quickly stopped it. Obviously that was only a mild anxiety if I was able to overcome it by my (rather feeble) willpower, but the idea is to reduce your anxiety by whatever means works, to the point where you can do the same.

This is a common concern. But let me tell you, if you can get over it you will be doing yourself a world of good. I used to have the same anxieties as you. But I was determined not to let them run my life so I created a "bravery" program for myself -- in which I would plan "dares" -- that is, little steps that finally got me to the point where I could move my bowels in a public toilet. First step was just to go in a stall and sit there. Just to get used to the environment. What I learned from this is that stalls really do feel more enclosed than you might think. I did this numerous times before ramping up to actually using the bathroom when nobody else was around. The final and hardest obstacle was forcing myself to go in a stall and move my bowels when there were other guys in other stalls. This gradual desensitization worked wonders for me. I will now go anywhere, any time -- and I don't even think about it. In other words, if I have to go -- I go. No big deal.